Mobile crane and carrier assembly



Oct. 7, 1958 s, PRICHARD 2,855,110-

MOBI ELE'CRANE AND CARRIER ASSEMBLY Filed Feb.- 23, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet1 l I x V I 1N VEN TOR.

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'VATTORNEY- Dct- 1958 E. s. PRIICHARD 2,855,110

MOBILE CRANE AND CARRIER ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 23, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. E VAN S. P/P/cHARD.

M IL I E. S. PRICHARD MOBILE CRANE AND CARRIER ASSEMBLY Oct. 7, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23, 1954 3 INVENTOR.

A 7' TOR/vex Oct. 7, 1958 E s PRICHARD 2,855,110

MOBILE CRANE AND CARRIER ASSEMBLY 4 fiheetS-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 23, 1954M M w @A n I Z INVENTOR. EVAN S. PR/cHARD.

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United States PatentO MOBILE CRANE AND QARRIER ASSEMBLY Evan S.Prichard, La Qanadla, Califi, assignor to Cook Bros. Equipment 60., LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 23,1954, Serial No. 411,947

8 Claims. (Cl. 212-38) This invention relates to cranes of the typerevolvably supported on power-driven, wheeled and dirigible carriers.Cranes of this character have a power plant for revolving the cab andoperating the Windlass for the boom, which is mounted to revolve withthe cab, and the control means therefor is located within the cab. Asecond power plant is mounted on the carrier for driving the latter.which the carrier may be driven, as well as the control means forbraking and steering the carrier, are manually operated from pointswithin the drivers cab on the carrier.

Accordingly, two separate control stations are required, one for thecrane and the other for the carrier, and this arrangement, of necessity,requires an operator for each control station.

It is an object of this invention to provide a crane and carrierassembly of this character which embodies novel means whereby a singleoperator at the control station in the crane cab, may conveniently andaccurately control movement of the carrier as well as the operation ofthe crane.

Another object of this invention is to provide a crane and carrierassembly which embodies improved means making it unnecessary to transmitpower from the crane cab for propelling the carrier.

It is another object of this invention to provide a crane and carrierassembly wherein novel carrier control connections between the crane caband the power driven propulsion means on the carrier as well as thetransmission means, fluid brakes and steering means for the carrier,make it unnecessary to employ fluid lines such as hydraulic andpneumatic conduits between the crane cab and the carrier.

, Further, it is an important object of this invention to provide noveland highly efficient mechanical linkage between carrier controls in therevolvable crane cab and the means on the carrier for effecting andcontrolling the the movement of the carrier.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved crane andcarrier assembly wherein the novel mechanical carrier-controlconnections between the crane cab and the carrier, and the eliminationof carrier propulsion transmission means between the crane cab and thecarrier, make it unnecessary to ship the crane unit and the carrier unitto or from a central point for assembly and testing before delivery toor from the job site, as the two units readily may be assembled on thejob and as readily disassembled.

Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a crane andcarrier assembly such as described wherein the novel mechanicalcarrier-control means are installed on the carrier with simple flexible,manually operable, elements thereof extending therefrom so as to besubject to ready connection with the crane cab, as well as subject toselective and detachable mounting on the cab in positions readilyaccessible from the operators station in the cab.

The control means to vary the speed at Only one form of crane andcarrier embodying the invention, will be described herein, and the novelfeatures thereof pointed out in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a crane and carrier assembly embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view partly inelevation and taken on the plane of 3-3 of- Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view taken on theplane of line 8-8 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane ofline 9-9 of Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1, a crane and carrier assembly embodying thisinvention comprises a wheeled carrier 1 on which a crane unit 2 isrevolvably mounted. The carrier mounts an engine 3 for driving the same,whereas an engine 4 is provided in the cab 5 of the crane unit 2 for thesole purpose of operating the crane unit.

In accordance with this invention a single control station is providedin the crane cab 5, from which an operator may control the movement ofthe carrier 1, as well as the operation of the crane unit 2. Thiscontrol of the carrier from the crane cab 5 is made possible bymechanical linkage means A which, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4,operatively connects carrier control elements in the crane cab with theelements on the carrier 1 for effecting and controlling the movements ofthe carrier.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 4-, particularly the latter, it will beseen that the carrier-control elements in the crane cab 5, include alever 6 for controlling the engine starting motor 6s as well as the airbrake system 6t on the carrier; an accelerator 7 for controlling theengine throttle 7.9 on the carrier; a lever 8 for controlling anautomatic transmission unit its associated with the engine 3 to drivethe carrier at different speeds; a lever 9 for controlling a hydraulicpower steering unit 9s on the carrier; and a lever It) for controllingemergency or parking brakes 10s on the carrier. The crane cab is alsoprovided with the usual controls for the crane elements including thelever 11 as shown in Fig. 1. These controls are well known and are notshown except the lever 11. They are accessible from the operators slot12, and provide for control of the turning of the cab as well as foroperation of the boom 13 and the tackle 14 associated therewith in amanner Well known in this art.

The crane cab 5 is revolvable about the axis of an internal bull gear 15fixed as by welding to the deck 16 of the carrier 2, as indicated inFigs. 1 and 3. Rollers 17 (Fig. I) mounted on the cab deck 18 ride onthe gear 15 so as to maintain the cab in centered relation to this gear,in the turning of the cab. A drive pinion, not shown, driven by thepower plant 4 in the cab 5 in the usual manner for turning the cab, iscarried by the deck 18 so as to mesh with and travel around the internalteeth of the bull gear 15.

The control levers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 operable in the cab 5 forcontrolling the carrier movements, are connected with Bowden wireelements 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a and 10a respectively, which constitute parts ofthe linkage means A. These Bowden wire elements extend into a tubularmember 2t) welded to the cab deck 18 over an opening 21 in line with theaxis of the bull gear 15, as best shown in Fig. 3, whereby they arepositioned for connection with remainder of the linkage means A whichwill now be described.

With reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that a vertically disposedtubular shaft 23 coaxial with and extending through the hub of the bullgear 15, is mounted for rotation in bearings 24 and 25 on a frame 26fixed to a carrier frame 26 below the deck 16. The shaft 23 is rotatedwith the crane cab 5, being detachably and drivingly connected with thefixed member 26 on the cab deck 18, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thisdetachable drive connection is effected by means of a torque bar 23bolted on the member 20, and connected by means of a rigid angular linkbar 29 with a ring 38 welded on the upper end of the shaft 23. As thecrane cab tilts about its axis during the operation of the crane, thebolt holes 28a accommodating the bolts which fasten the bars 28 and 29,are enlarged to permit of such rocking movement without damaging theconnection between the member 20 and the shaft 23.

Means, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is mounted on the shaft 23 andassociated therewith, for mechanically linking the control units 6s, 6t,7s, 8s, 9s and 10s on the carrier, with the Bowden wire elements 6a, 7a,8a, 9a and 10a in the cab 5. This means includes extensions 65, 7b, 8b,9b and 1% of the Bowden wire units 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a and 10a, respectively.The extensions 6b, 7b, 8b and 10b are detachably joined to theassociated elements 6a, 7a, 8a and 100. through the ring 30, by means oflike coupling members 31. The extension 9b extends through the tubularshaft 23, and is detachably joined through the torque bar 28 to theelement 9a by coupling means 32.

It will now be apparent that as the shaft 23 and the e Bowden wireelements and extensions thereof are in effect, parts of the carrierwhich are subject to detachable connection with the crane cab 5 by meansof the torque bar 28, link 29, ring 30 and the coupling means 31 and 32,it is possible for a mechanic readily to connect these controls betweenthe carrier and the crane cab, as well as to disconnect such controls.

Continuing with the description of the linkage means A on the carrier,it is seen with reference to Figs. 3

and 4, that the Bowden wire extensions 6b, 7b, 8b and 1012 are slidablethrough openings in the rotary part of the bearing 25 and secured as attheir lower ends to peripherally grooved circular disks 6c, 7c, 80 and10c respectively, mounted on the shaft 23 for rotation therewith andaxial movement relative to the shaft. Those of the extensions whichextend past certain of the disks are movable freely through openings 33in such disks.

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the disks 60, 7c, etc. are splined onthe shaft 23 for rotation therewith as well as independent verticalmovement thereon, through the provision of non-friction splines 34engaging in V- shaped grooves 35 in the shaft. Each spline 34 comprisesa pair of steel balls mounted in a radial bore 36 in the disk, with theinner ball rotatable in the groove 35 and the outer ball rotatable withthe inner ball and having rotatable contact with the inner cupped end ofa plug 37 screwthreaded in the disk.

It will now be apparent that the shaft 23, disks 60, 7c, Sc and file, aswell as all of the Bowden wire elements 6a, 7a, 3a, 9a and 10, withtheir extensions 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b and Z'Cb, will rotate with the turningof the crane cab 5, relative to the carrier 1.

The control elements 9, 9a and 9b in being operable for controlling thepower steering unit 9s of the carrier, are of different arrangement thanthe other control elements in that the extension 9b of the Bowden wireelement 9a is extended axially through the shaft 23, and has a circulardisk 90 fixed to the lower end thereof below the shaft 23. A ring 9surrounds the disk 9c, the ring and disk being constructed and arrangedso that the disk will rotate relative to the ring while both are subjectto bodily movement responsive to axial movement of the Bowden extension9b.

Means are provided in cooperation with the rotary disks 6c, 70, 8c and100 as well as with the rotary disk 90, for operatively connecting thesedisks respectively with the controls 6s, 6t, 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s on thecarrier 1. These means include levers 6d, 7d, 8d, 9d and 10d arranged toactuate associated Bowden wire elements 6e, 7e, 8e, 9e and 1912,respectively, which latter are connected with and operate the controlelements 6s, 6!, 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s, respectively. The Bowden wireelement 6e, as shown in Fig. 4, serves the dual purpose of operating theswitch 614 for engine starting motor 6s, as well as operating the airbrake unit 6t.

With reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the levers 6d, 7d, 8d and10d are fulcrumed on the frame 26 so as to extend radially toward theshaft 23, there being brackets 40 on the frame 26, on which the leversare fulcrumed as at 41. The outer ends of these levers are pivoted as at42 to the Bowden wire elements 6e, 7e, 8e and 10e. The inner ends ofthese levers are forked and carry rollers 6', 7, 8 and 10' which ride ingrooves 6", 7", 8" and 10" in the rotary disks 6c, 70, 8c and 100,respectively, thereby operatively connecting these disks with thelevers.

The lever 9d is fulcrumed as at 43 on a bracket 44 depending from theframe 26, and one end of this lever is pivoted as at 9 to the ring 9'.The other end of the lever 9d is connected with the Bowden wire element9e (see Fig. 4) which operates a 4-way control valve 9t for the powersteering hydraulic unit 9s on carrier 1.

With reference to the foregoing description in consideration of theaccompanying drawings, particularly the schematic showing in Fig. 4, itwill be apparent that the mechanical linkage between the crane cab 5 andthe carrier 1 will provide the objects and advantages appearing hereinin a particularly eflicacious manner. Operation of any one of the levers6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the crane cab 5 will transmit through the Bowdenwire control associated therewith, a force for moving the associatedsplined disk axially on the rotary shaft 23 whereby, the lever connectedwith the disk will be rocked to operate the Bowden wire elementconnected therewith, thereby actuating the selected unit on the carrier1 for effecting movement and/or controlling movement thereof asrequired.

Thus it becomes manifest that by means of this invention complete andremote control of the carrier to maneuver the crane unit from place toplace, is attained by a single operator stationed in the crane cab, andthat mechanical linkage is provided, as distinguished from fluidlinkage, such as oil and air lines running from carrier to crane, foroperation of the fluid and mechanical controls for carrier movement,steering and braking.

As shown in Fig. 2, an auxiliary transmission T is provided between thetransmission 8s and the rear axle of the carrier. This transmission T isof the low-speed selective gear type, and is operable manually by alever L which projects from the side of the carrier 1 so as to beactuated by an operator standing on the ground. The transmission 8s isdesigned for high-speed operation of the carrier, and is used in workingin open areas, or for moving from one job site to another. The auxiliarytransmission T is for slow-speed operation of the carrier, and permitseasy operation and maneuvering in cramped quarters. Thus there isprovided extreme maneuverabili ty and large working radius of thecarrier and crane.

Although only one form of mobile crane and carrier assembly embodyingthe invention is herein shown and described it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made herein without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanical linkage means for controlling the movement of a mobilecrane carrier from the revolvable cab of a crane unit mounted on thecarrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a power plant as well asmeans for controlling the operation of such plant and the movement ofthe carrier, comprising: a tubular shaft; bearing means on said carrierrotatably mounting said shaft in a vertical position in line with theaxis of rotation of said cab; a plurality of circular membersindependently splined on said shaft; an elongated axially movable memberextending through said shaft; means connecting said shaftwith said cabfor rotation with the cab; flexible actuating elements connected withsaid axially movable circular members for operation from said cab toreciprocate said members; a plurality of said circular members havingopenings therein through which said elements are extended; leversfulcrumed on said carrier; said circular members having peripheralgrooves; rollers on said levers disposed in said grooves; another leverfulcrumed on said carrier; means connecting said last named lever withsaid elongated member and means operatively connecting said first namedand said last named levers with said control means on said carrier.

2. Mechanical linkage means for controlling the movement of a mobilecrane carrier from the revolvable cab of a crane unit mounted'on thecarrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a power plant as well asmeans for controlling the operation of such plant and the movement ofthe carrier, including: a shaft supported on the carrier for rotationabout a vertical axis and extending through the deck of said cab; meansconnecting the shaft with the deck of said cab for rotation therewith;peripherally grooved disks splined on said shaft for rotation therewithand for independent axial movement thereon; flexible actuating elementsone for each of said disks secured thereto and extending through the cabdeck for operation from the cab to reciprocate the respective disks;those of said elements for operating those disks below the uppermostdisk extending through and slidable in those disks above the lowermostdisk so as to allow said elements to indi-' vidually actuate all of saiddisks; forked levers fulcrumed on said carrier, one for each of saiddisks and having parts engaging within the groove thereof; and meansconnecting said levers with said control means on said carrier.

3. Mechanical linkage means for controlling the movement of a mobilecrane carrier from the revolvable cab of a crane unit mounted on thecarrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a power-plant as well asmeans for controlling the operation of such plant and the movement ofthe carrier, including: a shaft supported on the carrier for rotationabout a vertical axis and extending through the deck of said cab; meansconnecting the shaft with the cab deck for rotation therewith; saidmeans having parts allowing controlled rocking movement of the shaftrelative to the cab deck while maintaining an operative connectionbetweenthe two; peripherally grooved disks splined on said shaft forrotation therewith and for independent axial movement thereon; flexibleactuating elements one for each of said disks secured thereto andextending through the cab deck for operation from the cab to reciprocatethe respective disks; those of said elements for operating those disksbelow the uppermost disk extending through and slidable in those disksabove the lowermost disk so as to allow said elements to individuallyactuate all of said disks; forked levers fulcrumed on said carrier onefor each of said disks having parts engaging within the groove thereof;and means connecting said levers with said control means on saidcarrier.

4. Mechanical linkage means as embodied in claim 3,

6 wherein said parts comprise a tubular member fixed to the cab deck andinto which the upper end of said shaft extends, a link bar fixed to theupper end of said shaft, and a torque bar fixed to the link bar abovethe upper end of said shaft and loosely bolted to the tubular member.

5. Mechanical linkage means for controlling the movement of a mobilecrane carrier from the revolvable cab of a crane unit mounted on thecarrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a power plant as well asmeans for controlling the operation of such plant and the movement ofthe carrier, including: a shaft supported on the carrier for rotationabout a vertical axis and extending through the deck of said cab; meansconnecting the shaft with the cab deck for rotation therewith;peripherally grooved disks arranged one above the other on said shaft;means for individually splining said disks on said shaft,,comprisinggrooves longitudinally in said shaft and circumferentially spaced aboutthe latter; radial bores in each of said disks, screw plugs in saidbores, and balls in said bores between said plugs and said shaft andengaging within the shaft grooves; flexible actuating elements one foreach of said disks secured thereto and extending through the cab deckfor operation from the cab to reciprocate the respective disks; those ofsaid elements for operating those disks below the uppermost diskextending through and slidable in those disks above the lowermost diskso as to allow said elements to individually actuate all of said disks;forked levers fulcrumed on said carrier, one for each of said diskshaving parts engaging within the grooves thereof; and means connectingsaid levers with said control means on said carrier.

6. Mechanical linkage means for controlling the movement of a mobilecrane carrier from the revolvable cab of a crane unit mounted on thecarrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a power plant as well asmeans for controlling the operation of such plant and the movement ofthe carrier, including: a shaft supported on the carrier for rotationabout a vertical axis and extending through the deck of said cab; meansconnecting the shaft with the cab deck for rotation therewith; saidmeans having parts allowing controlled rocking movement of the shaftrelative to the cab deck while maintaining an operative connectionbetween the two; peripherally grooved disks arranged one above the otheron said shaft; means for individually splining said disks on said shaftcomprising grooves longitudinally in said shaft and circumferentiallyspaced about the latter; radial bores in each of said disks, screw plugsin said bores, and balls in said bores between said plugs and said shaftand engaging within the shaft grooves; flexible actuating elements onefor each of said disks secured thereto and extending through the cabdeck for operation from the cab to reciprocate the respective disks;those of said elements for operating those disks below the uppermostdisk extending through and slidable in those disks above the lowermostdisk so as to allow said elements to individually actuate all of saiddisks; forked levers fulcrumed on said carrier one for each of saiddisks having parts engaging within the grooves thereof; and meansconnecting said levers with said control means on said carrier.

7. Mechanical linkage means for controlling the movement of a mobilecrane carrier from the revolvable cab of a crane unit mounted on thecarrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a power plant as well asmeans for controlling the operation of such plant and the movement ofthe carrier, including: a frame fixed on said carrier directly beneathsaid cab; a shaft; upper and lower bearings in said frame for supportingsaid shaft for rotation about a vertical axis and in vertical alignmentwith the axis of rotation of said cab; means connecting said shaft withthe deck of said cab for rotation therewith; peripherally grooved diskssplined on said shaft for rotation therewith and for independent axialmovement thereon; flexible actuating elements having rigid terminalextensions secured to said disks, with said elements extending throughthe cab deck for operation from the cab to actuate said extensions toindividually reciprocate said disks; said extensions slidablelonigtudinally in and rotatable with the upper bearing, with thoseextensions for operating those disks below the uppermost disk extendingthrough and slidable in those disks above the lowermost disk so as toallow said elements to individually actuate all oi: said disks; forkedlevers fulcrumed on said frame, one for each of said disks, and havingparts engaging within the groove thereof; and means connecting saidlevers with said control means on said carrier.

8. Mechanical linkage means as embodied in claim 7, wherein said shaftis tubular; a rod-like member extending downwardly through said shaft; aflexible actuating element connected to the upper end of said member foroperation from said cab to reciprocate said member; a disk fixed to thelower end of said member; a ring rotatably mounted on said disk butfixed against axial movement thereon; a forked lever secured to saidring and fulcrumed on said frame; and means connecting the lastmentionedlever with one of said control means on said carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

